Valve



N. H. FOOKS.

' VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, |919.

. 1,327,549, Patented Jan'. 6, 1920.l

NELSON H. FOOKS, OIEV PRESTON, MARYLAND.

` VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920'.

Application filed April 8, 1919. Serial N0. 288,588.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NELSON H.' Fooks, a citizen of the United States, residing at Preston, in the county of Caroline and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves; and I d0.

hereby declarethe following to be a full,

l clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. v

This invention relates to uid pressure control means, and more `particularly to valves. j

In certaintypes of apparatus there may be differential pressures as respect to closed chambers, or a closed chamber and other chambers, or as to the 'atmosphere. For instance, in they art of cooking goods in closed containers, such as tin cans, the canned goods are handled in divers processes, one of which consists of subjecting the cans to a suitable degree of temperature, and also at a pressure above atmospheric. Ordinarily closed, pressure cookers are charged with racks containing numbers of the cans, and the cooker or retort is then sealed and the temperature and pressure raised, and after the cooking has been completed, the pressure is removed, the cover opened, and the stacked goods removed, all of which process vinvolves considerable bloss of time and a waste of heat, and it has,l therefore, been pro osed to provide a continuous, pressure coo er, means being provided to control the entire discharge of the cans into and from the cooker, with a minimum loss of pressure from thecooker. This type of cooker involves, therefore, a form of feeding and withdrawing device, serving. as a closure for the retort, as well as a carrier for the cans', and might be termed a valve. a

It is one of the especial objects of the present invention to overcome the very material loss of pressure and waste of heat in various types of lstructures and apparatuses employing valves which intermittently open communication, as between two chambers having differential pressure, or as between one chamber and the atmosphere, and it is a further4 object of the'invention to provide av pressure-controlling means in the orm of a valve which is designed to so control the escape of pressure between the different medlums as to substantially eliminate any material direct exhaust or waste from the higher pressure medium to the lower .pressure side, and thus to accomplish an' objec-t of the invention, which consists in the conservation of heat or pressure, and 1n the 'economical use of moisture if liquid is litilized 1n the operation of the process in which eol the organization or apparatus may be em- I Dierently'stated, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide a valve so de signed, constructed and o erative I as to successively reduce by a purality of steps,

volumes of fluid or gas commencing at a degree of pressure at one point ofthe valve equal to that in the high-pressure chamber of the apparatus, and thence stepping down the pressure toward the outlet or exhaust side of the Valve to such a degree thatthe exhaust differential has been minimized to the degree desirable or practicable.

It is further an object of the invention to improve the construction of valves so as to' enable the use thereof as a medium for controlling the ed'uction of fluid under pressure, as between differential pressure sides, and at the same time to enable the use of the valve as a conveyer or carrier for introducing into or withdrawing from an element of the ap-v paratus, various objects to be handled in the operation of or which are acted upon during the use of the apparatus. A further object of the invention is to improve the mounting arrangement of the valve, and the packing instrumentalities thereof, so as to prevent leakage of the fluid as'far as practicable.

With these, and other objects in View, as will be rendered'manifest to those versed in the art, the invention consists of the construction, the combination,l and in details and arrangements of the parts as more par# ticularly described inthe following specification relative to the form'of the invention'vshown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is-a side elevation, with parts broken away and also partly in section, representing one adaptation of the improved valve.

Fig. 2 is asection on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detailed view of the packing means and associated parts.

Fig. 4 is a View on the same scale of means for pressing a packing ring into bear- Fig. 1,'the valve structure comprises a wheel- -neach ring 86 against the adjacent side of.

Vao

like member 75, of suitable proportions and design of construction, and its perimeter is shown as provided with a series or plurality of pockets 32, between each of which there is formed a high or ridge point 77, the extreme ends of which lie substantially in a circle closely approximating the bore of the casing 78, and preferably these high points are provided with transversev packing bars 79, which are arranged in respective recesses therefor, and these are yieldingly pressed outwardly by respective pairs of springs 80, surrounding pins 81, which enter pockets 82 in the rim portion of the wheel 75, and passing therethrough to receive lock nuts 83 on their exposed ends. Preferably each side ofthe wheel 75 has secured to it a disk 84, the outer faces of which are ground to run smoothly against the adjacent plane faces of the chamber 78, and the packing strips or pieces 79 are shown plainly in Fig. 3, as extending through the rims of the side disks or plates 84. To prevent leakage of pressure, which will. be in troduced, as hereinafter y' described, around and along the edges of the side disks 84, and between the adjacent faces of the casing 7 8, which, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with one removable side 78,'the casino' is rovided with an annular recess indicated at 85; on keach side in each recess, there is inserted a split and resilient packing ring 86, having a cross-sectional contour and area closely approximating the cross-sectional form of the rez'ess 85, and for the purpose of pressing the rotating valve disk 84, suitable means are employed, one form ofwhich consists of a series of expansion springs 87, arranged in respective pockets 88', formed in the sides of the casing7 8, and these springs obviously made in suitable number, and such distribution as to ysecurethe even and desired degree of pressure throughout the ring against the valve disk.

The valve structure and its casing, as just described, is shown in the present case as mountedupon one side of a chamber indicated at 2, and which may represent the chamber, within which suitable conveying means as the angle slats 37 arranged. ,for instance, on wheelswhich form a carrier-for cans, indicated at C. v"When pressure is created in the container'2, to facilitate a'.

cooking of the contents of the cans, it is es- -peciallyl desirable to prevent the loss of pressure from the chamber 2,1 as the cans are successively introduced thereinto, and the present Avalve with its casing, when attached .to the chamber 2, permits the successive in-A troduction of cans from any suitable source of supply into the chamber 2, with the miniymum loss of pressure, as will now be described. The lower portion of the 4casing 7 8 is provided with an outlet 21, and an upper and preferably means' 90, the en s of the'pipes 89 being designated at 32, ,wliich'will successively pass below the inlet and 'supply means, and also successively pass the discharge outlet so that the cans will be deposited on the carrier slats 37. By providing a. plurality of the pockets 32, asin this embodiment of the invention it is possible for me to reduce the pressure as between that in thegchamber .2 and that Without the inlet lside 33 of the casing 7 8 in a number of successive "and decreasing degrees, until linally the pressure in a pocket will, when the latter reaches the inlet of the chamber 7 8, have beenso reduced as to be `substantially equal to the pressure at the inlet,l or' if desired, be in excess thereof.

I secure this feature of lsuccessively reducing the pressure in the valve pockets, by the following means, which illustrate one manner of securing the desired. results. Each of the pockets 32 is Aprovided with la phrt, or if desired,with' ports, and in this case the port, designated at 88, for each pocket is formed in one of the side disks 84 at a suitable location with respect to the'contour of the pocket, land preferably7 disalined from the portion of the pocket in which the can C normally rests. The entire series of ports 88 is preferably arranged in' a circle concentric tothe shaftof the valve, and which latter is manifestly geared with respect to the carrier mechanism, so that the slats 37, thereof, are timed to come to the outlet of the casing 78-in proper relation to the pockets 32 thereof, so that a can canbe released from the carrier" of valve 75, to be timely discharged on to a registering slat37 of the carrier in the chamber 2. That side or end 'wall of the casing 78, which covers the disk 84, which is -provided with the ports 88, and. which is illustrated in Fig. 1, is `provided with a series of ports entered by the ends of transfer pipes 89, which are slidably mounted in bearings therefor, rovided with. packing tapped or otherwise secured in the adjacent sides of the packing ring 86, and which latter is also provided with ports 91 disposed in a circle coincident with the circle in which the series of ports 88 lie in the adjacent disks 84. -The transfer pipes 89 are preferably slidable in Ytheir bearings, and are cross-connected as from one'side of the casing`7 8, as at w, tothe opposite side as 3y, the connecting pipes 92 between a given pair ,of thevend pipes 89 being disposed as follows: As oneof the pockets 32 passes .the can outlet at the bottom of the chamber 78,

.and .a can issues therefrom, this pocket thence crosses the opening or gap in the casing, and .moves into juxtapositlon with a portion of the annular wall of the casing,

which is of suiicient length to cover a ocket and provide bearing face for an ad- ]acent pair of the packing strips 79. This being so,- there is then in this pocket, which has just left the outlet opening, a pressure equal' to the pressure in the container or chamber 2. Now by placing one of the transfer and end' pipes 89, with its port 9L at such area of the casing178 as forms a wholly'closed chamber, as soon as a pocket 32 leaves the outlet opening, then it will be possible to discharge the compressed fluid therefrom to the opposite side of the casing, and of its outlet at a point indicated at c, where the pressure will blow through the cross pipe 92, when a. port 88 of the side disk 84.- registers With the port 91 in the ring 86 of the end or transferpipe 89. This transfer of pressure from one closed pocket leaving the outletof the chamber across to another pocket having a lower pressure, and immediately approaching the outlet of the chamber, will obviously cause an equalization of pressure in thepockets, which momentarily are placed in intercommunication by the first step .or transfer pipe nearest the outlet. Now if thepocket passes from the first stage of reduction farther along in the same direction to the next stage, the pressure therein can also be reduced another.

step, since the port 88 thereofreaches the registering end as j, of the next reduction pipe 92, and pressure will be reduced as a pocket at j is placed'in communication with another pocket on the other side of the casing, and indicated at m; this gives a second reduction. Obviously the number of steps of reduction can be continued, and will be determined by the number of pockets 32 in a valve, as the pressure in the given pocket is successively decreased, as this pocket passes from the outlet at the bottom of the chamber 7 8, which will ultimately be brought into juxtaposition with the exhaust 43, and anypressure residing in the -given pocket above the pressure in tlfe exhaust passage will herefore be released. Con versely, if the pressure in a given. pocket is successively stepped down asitreachesv the exhaust 43, the pressure in the given pocket moving down with a can in the opening will be successively increased by the successive transfer of pressure through the different transfer pipes 92and therefore, not only is there an economy in the reduction of the pressure of exhaust, but there is also an increase of the pressure inthe pockets moving toward the outlet connecting the casing`78, and they container 2, and obviously the highest pressure in a pocket moving to the can outlet of the chamber 7 8, is'accolnplished just prior to the movement of a pocket into the can outlet passageway. By this form of construction, and mode of o eration, it will bescen that there is a sul)- stantial balance of pressure on the opposite sides ofthe valve, and therefore, pressure resistance is overcome, but again, any condensed moisture, which may be'carried into thel outgoing pockets 32, collects in the in. coming pockets, and restored to the chamber 2 and further it will be seen that when the valve 7 5 is used to convey cans to the cooker, that the cans will be successively subjected to increasing degrees Y of temperature and pressure. While I have shown the valve 75, as adapted to supplying cans to the cooking apparatus, it is readily adaptable to the luse of conveying cans from the cooker. 1

It will be observed from the above that by using a valve structure having a plurality of chambers which are successively registeredwith a higher pressure port and later with an exhaust, that an economy of pressure. is obtained by successively equalizing the pressure in given series of the chambers, as by connecting one of the charged chambers leaving the pressure port and while this pocket is closed connecting it to another closed pocket moving from the exhaust port and toward the pressure port so that the medium is restored to the pressure chamber with but a minimum loss of pressure. Moreover it will be seen that by successively equalizing the pressure in multiple stages of different degrees of pressure the chamber approaching the exhaust oroutlet has been depleted of pressure to a given degree and at the same time a chamber leaving the exhaust is replenished gradually as it ap proachesthe pressure port and this bythe pressure taken from the port.

1, A device for conveying material between atmospheres of different pressure and ioo for controlling the flow of fluid-under pressure between the different atmospheres, this de vice having a carrier with pockets to recelvethe material, and means 'for connecting ,certain pockets in successive steps of their movement to reduce the higher pressure in successive stages toward thelower.

2. A valve between atmospheres of different pressures comprising successive fractioning means to vary the pressures between the high pressure atmosphere and the low presing ports connected in series of independent `groups, including one port to open comable members forming a plurality of closed` chambers, an inlet and an outlet, a packing ring having series of ports, one of said members also having series of ports to register Y therewith during operation-of the valve, and means connecting groups of ports in the ring to eilect successive reduction of pressure in the chambersy as respective ports register.

6. In a `continuous, pressure cooker a chamber having can feeding means therein, a valve with can receiving pockets, said pockets enlarged forward of said can in its direction of movement, ksaid valve forming a` closure forY the opening to the interior mechanism, and means for equalizing the of the pockets during operation of. the valve, the pressure being materially reduced by expansion in said pockets.

'7. In a continuous, pressurel cooker. a'` chamber having can feeding means therein,

a valve with can receiving pockets materially larger than the cans, said valve forminga closure for the opening to the interior mechanism, and means for equalizing the pressure of fluid in certain of the pockets during operation of the valve for the purpose of materially reducing the .exhaust pressure from the valve and for dierentiating pressure on the cans in a plurality of stages. f v

8. In combination, a 'pressure cooker, a valve between said cooker and another atmosphere for varying the'pressurebetween said cooker and said atmosphere, said valve provided with chambers and meansfto successively fraction pressure in said chambers between said cooker and said other atmosphere.

9.In a continuous pressure cooker a chamber having can feeding means therein,

A a valve with can receiving pockets2 said valve forming a closure for the opening to` the interior mechanism, and means for materially reducing and e ualizing the pressure of fluid in certain of t' e pockets during operation of the valve for the/purpose of greatly reducing th'e exhaust pressure from the valve and for differentiating pressure on the cans gradually, the dierentiation occurring in successive steps. n

10. In an apparatus having a normally closed chamber to and from which articles are passed, an inclosed transferring valve having a series of pockets, and means for interconnecting the pockets in independent sets upon relative movement of the valvein its casing. v

11. In` combination, a carrier provided with luid tight pockets, a housing surrounding saidfcarrier, conduits interconnecting said pockets in independent sets upon the relative movement of said carrier in said casing, said conduits so arranged that pressure in certain pockets is successively reduced while pressure in other pockets is successively increased.

12.' ,In anapparatus' having a normally closed chamber tol and from which articles are passed, an inclosed transferring valve having a series of pockets, and means for interconnecting the pockets in independent sets upon relative movement of the valve in its casing, said means so arranged that the greater pressure is gradually stepped I down from one side of the valve to the other lor moving chambers to be brought successively into register with the inlet and with the outlet, and means constructed and arranged to equalize the pressure in pairs of the pockets or chambers as they are successively brought to register with the high pressure side of the valve, one of the said pockets beingl at the time of equalization on each side of the'high pressure opening, said means providing for the reduction of the pressure in the pockets in successive stages in those pockets between the higher pressure side and the lowest pressure side.

14. An apparatus having a normally closed chamber to and from which articles are passed from a space-pressure different from that in the chamber, a conveying valve organization including a valve and a closure or casing therefor between which there are formed a number of article receiving pockets or chambers, and an inlet and an outlet for the articles successively to the said chambers; and means for independently connecting said pockets or chambers in sets so as to equalize the pressurev as the sets become interconnected and whereby the pressure is reduced in successive steps from the highest pressure 'to the lowest pressure invollved.

15. An apparatus having a normally closed chamber to and from which articles are passed from a space-pressure different. from that in the chamber, a conveying valve organization including a valve and a closure or casing therefor betweenwhich there are formed a number of article receiving pockets or chambers, andan inlet and an outlet for the articles successively to the said chambers; andv means for independently within. said housing, said housin connecting said pockets orchambers in sets so as toequalize the pressure as the sets be` come interconnected and whereby the pressure is reduced in successlve steps rem the highest pressure to the lowest pressure 1nvolved, thepressure reducing means heing soarranged and disposed that the pressure is gradually increased in those of the pockets that are moved toward the higher pressure side while the pressurein those pockets moving away from thev higher pressure side is successivelyI reduced.

l 16. .In comblnatlon, a houslng, a rotor lprovided withapertures for receiving an rotor provided with pockets yfor carrying material between vsaidaperturesz said pock- 4ets packed relative to saidahousrng to form expansion chambers and havingl fx-receiving contour conforming to the .shape of said materials to l'be carried therein and ysaid pockets also having an. inclined plane for.;

Laar-efec ischarg-` ing materials lto and from sai'drotor, said( `'ward'ofsaid pockets and leading tosaid pockets and a shoulder betweensaid pockl ets and said plane. l

17. In a valve mechanism for delivering cans into -a cooker, a rotor, a casing for said rotor, `said rotor provided with pockets, and means Within said casing forgradually admitting said cans into said pockets.

18. A valve mechanism fer delivering cans into a cooker comprising arot-or provided with` pockets, a casing suvrrunding said rotor, and means for-gradually admitting cans into said pockets, said means including a gradual inclmein said rotor so that the Ycans `may be seated in thek bottom of the incline tosaid pockets, the dividing line besov tween aypocket and said incline forming a shoulder. l c v In testimony whereof I aiix my signature. NELSON H. FOOKS.' 

